Inauguration Ceremony of the 

YMCA Training Center Annex Building

           

From left Professor Gabriel Manik Gomes, Rev. Fr. Kamal Corraya, Mr. Hirokazu Arai, Rev. Samuel D. Stephens, Mr. Marcel A. Gomes, Mr. Bill Harte & Mr. Duncan Chowdhury

          

The 8th of December 2006 was a day marked with red letter in the history of Bangladesh YMCA. The YMCA Training Center Annex Building was inaugurated on this day at Savar. The long cherished dream of the members of the YMCA to have a Training Center with modern amenities became a reality. It was a grand celebration in the presence of YMCA Members, social dignitaries and distinguished overseas guests. Rev. Samuel D. Stephens, President of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs and Deputy President of the World Alliance of YMCAs was present at the ceremony as the Chief Guest.

Mr. Hirokazu Arai, General Secretary of Tokyo YMCA, Mr. Bill Harte, Chief Executive Officer of Glasgow YMCA, Rev. Fr. Kamal Corraya, Editor of Weekly Pratibeshi and Professor Gabriel Manik Gomes were present as Special Guests at the Inauguration Ceremony of YMCA Training Center Annex Building. The Chief Guest and Special Guests along with the leaders of Bangladesh YMCAs unveiled the plaque and inaugurated the Annex Building. The Inauguration Ceremony was presided by Mr. Marcel A. Gomes President of the National Council of YMCAs of Bangladesh.    

Rev. Samuel D. Stephens, President of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs in his speech congratulated to the leaders of Bangladesh YMCAs for their magnificent contribution to strengthen the YMCA movement not only in Bangladesh but all over the world. In his speech, he emphasized to work together for the mission of the YMCA. A society where people are exploited and subjugated to others, but having abundance in life.

Mr. Hirokazu Arai, General Secretary of Tokyo YMCA highly appreciated the Leaders of Bangladesh YMCAs for their sacrifice and excellent service to build a wonderful Training Center. He expressed his commitments to strengthen the partnership with Bangladesh YMCAs in order to work together for the common mission of YMCA.

Mr. Bill Harte also expressed his satisfaction for the good work of the leaders of Bangladesh YMCAs. He requested to concentrate on the proper use of this Training Center and encourage youth participation for future leadership. He hoped that this Training Center will be an ecumenical platform for the youths and leaders to march together for a just society.

Mr. Marcel A. Gomes, President of the National Council of YMCAs of Bangladesh in his speech expressed that with a vision of forming just leadership in the society, we are working together and this Annex Building is a sign of the achievement in our common mission of YMCA. 

Mr. Duncan Chowdhury, National General Secretary of the National Council of YMCAs of Bangladesh told that now we can see the fulfillment of our dream of a modern training center and at the same time a new dream has been born deep in our minds and that is to form ideal leadership for a humanitarian society.

Now the YMCA Training Center is equipped with 12 additional double rooms with attached baths, enhancing the total capacity of the Training Center to accommodate 64 inmates with residential facilities. Moreover a auditorium has been built with a capacity of 200 guests in theatre mode. A conference room has been added too, in addition to the existing one.     

Beside the trainings of the YMCAs, this Center will also be open for other philanthropist organizations to conduct their trainings, workshops, seminars and symposiums. 

The Inauguration Ceremony ended with a Cultural Soiree presented by the Cultural Team of Dhaka YMCA. The rich cultural heritage of Bangladesh was depicted in the Soiree. 

 
      

 

 

Mr. Marcel A.Gomes, President, National Council of YMCAs of Bangladesh

 
 

 

 

Rev. Samuel D. Stephens, President, Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs and Deputy President, World Alliance of YMCAs

   
 

 

       

Mr. Hirokazu Arai, 

General Secretary,

Tokyo YMCA

    
 

Mr. Bill Harte, Chief Executive Officer, Glasgow YMCA

     
 

Rev. Samuel D. Stephens, Mr. Hirokazu Arai, Mr. Bill Harte unveiled the plaque of the YMCA Training Center Annex Building

 

  Mr. Duncan Chowdhury, National General Secretary,  

 

       

Rev. Fr. Kamal Corraya prayed and blessed the new building 

        

       

The new Training Center Annex Building

 

Mr. Marcel A. Gomes, presented a crest to Mr. Hirokazu Arai

 

     

Cultural Group of Dhaka YMCA organized a cultural program

 

    

Guests at the Inauguration Ceremony